Apparatus for cooling containers



July 16, 1940. w. c. HILGER APPARATUS FOR COOLING CONTAINERS Original Filed May 10, 1935 2 Sheets-Shae: l

INVENTOR. WALTER-C. HILGER. BY p ATTORN Y.

y 1940- w. c. HILGER 2,207,802

APPARATUS FOR COOLING CONTAINERS 2 Sheefs-Sheet 2 R 0 T N 5 E V G N l I 4 4 r Original Filed May 10,. 1935 I 3 8 6 2 & 7

W LTER C. HI ER.

1 ATTORNEY.

Patented July 16, 1940 UNITED STATES APPARATUS FOR COOLING CONTAINERS Walter C. Hilger, Chicago, Ill., assignor of onehalf to Herbert Scheurer, Chicago, Ill.

Refiled for abandoned application Serial No.

20,723, May 10, 1935. This application December 4, 1937, Serial No. 178,063

16 Claims.

This application has been refiled for my abandoned application Serial Number 20,723, filed May 10, 1935.

It contemplates more especially the provision 5 of efficacious means and improved application of a cooling medium to temper containers preparatory to the filling thereof.

The teachings of my invention, although not limited to such use, is particularly adapted to the bottling of milk and similar substances that require carefully regulated temperatures to prevent the undesirable multiplication of the bacteria normally present in raw or pasteurized milk. Then, .too, edible substances like milk are refrigerated immediately after pasteurization is effected, and it is desirable to avoid any appreciable re-warming thereof during the filling process. Any increase in temperature should be avoided in order to maintain the maximum cream volume and to economize on refrigeration.

Accordingly, the invention is purposed to provide improved bottling equipment with means for cooling the washed bottles in a manner to insure their presentation to the filling machine at the proper temperature to effectually guard against any heat absorption by the contents from the bottles or containers that are presented for filling with normally unstable contents. The bottles or containers are cooled to a temperature that is substantially commensurate with that of the liquid or other substance which has already been maintained under refrigeration to insure the proper preservation thereof.

One object of the present invention is to simplify the construction and improve the operation of devices of the character mentioned.

Another object is to provide cooling apparatus that effectively cools containers preparatory to and without interrupting the continuity of filling machine operations.

Still another object is to provide improved container cooling means that operate in accordance with the operating speed of the filling machine.

A further object is to provide a self-contained bottle cooling apparatus that is readily interposable between the washing and filling machines of existing installations.

A still further object is to provide a bottle cooling device adapted to pre-cool open bottles with any suitable cooling medium directed exteriorly thereover without entering the bottle interiors.

Still a further object is to provide an eflicient self-contained device for eflicaciously pre-cooling bottles without interfering with the continuity of bottle washing and filling operations.

An additional object is to provide a cooling device which is readily adjustable to pre-cool containers of different sizes.

An additional object is to provide a continuous improved method of pre-cooling containers without interrupting or curtailing the continuity of container washing and filling.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will appear from the following description of an illustrated embodiment of the present invention.

In the drawings:

Figure l is a side view in elevation of a bottling plant installation showing bottle washing, cooling and filling units and associated conveyer equipment to enable a continuity of operations with out interruption.

Figure 2 is a perspective view of the bottle cooling unit embodying features of the present invention. i

Figure 3 is a sectional view in elevation taken longitudinally through the bottle cooling unit shown in Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a transverse sectional view in elevation taken substantially along line IVIV of Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a sectional view in elevation taken substantially along line V--V of Figure 3.

The structure selected for illustration is shown in connection with the bottling of milk which requires that the bottles be filled at temperatures substantially below the normal room temperature. It will be obvious, however, that the invention may be used with equal advantage for other purposes and in packaging of other container filled substances to present bottles or containers for filling, at any desired temperature, either below or above the normal room temperature.

The preferred embodiment illustrates a method of and apparatus for cooling containers, there being shown a bottle washing unit 5 of any conventional construction which delivers containers to 'a cooling unit 6 for presentation to a filling unit 1. Suitable conveyer equipment 8 for carrying the bottles from the washing unit to the cooling unit, is provided to insure a continuity of operations without resort to manual effort. The washing and filling units 5 and 1 may be of any suitable or approved construction to perform their respective functions automatically and in interdependent relation with a cooling unit embodying features of the present invention; The conveyor 8 may also be of conventional construcmined rate of movement.

tion and, in this instance, comprises an endless belt conveyor driven by any suitable driving mechanism of standard construction (not shown).

For efiicient and universally adaptable operation, the operating speeds of the units and the conveyor are variable and capable of being coordinated so that the washing unit 5 will supply washed bottles and the conveyor 8 will carry these bottles to the cooling unit 6 in a predetermined speed and continuity of operation determined in accordance with the requirements of the filling unit I so that the latter. may operate uninterruptedly at the most efficient speed to produce the maximum capacity.

The cooling unit 6 is interposed between the washing unit 5 and the filling unit 7, it being preferably located immediately adjacent the filling unit 1 so as to deliver the cooled bottles directly to the latter without any appreciable time interval. As shown, the washed bottles are de livered from the washing unit 5 by the conveyor 8 to the cooling unit 6 which pre-cools the bottles to the desired temperature while in movement toward the filling unit I at any predeter- The cooling unit 6 then delivers the cooled bottles directly to the filling unit I. In the event that the latter unit is shut down temporarily or its operation is interrupted or delayed for any reason, the bottles in the cooling unit 6 are retained therein and are maintained at the proper temperature until full coordinated operations are resumed by all the units to insure a continuity of operations. Thus, there will be no opportunity for the bottles to become warm during the shut-down period, and proper temperature at the time of filling is thereby maintained. I

The cooling unit 6 embodies a novel combination and arrangement of parts to efiiciently cool containers or bottles as they are conveyed to the filling unit I at a predetermined rate of movement. As shown, the cooling unit 6, in this instance, comprises a substantially rectangular, elongated base or casing 9 defining an interior chamber to support the various structural parts that are essentially enclosed in the casing 9. The confines of the casing 9 defines a cooling zone of sufficient length to insure the proper cooling of bottles as they pass through at a predetermined rate. The casing 9 may be constructed of sheet metal or other suitable material with the sides thereof preferably comprising hinged panels I to provide convenient access to the interior thereof.

For conveying the bottles through the cooling zone of the unit and for insuring their proper cooling, a flexible endless inter-linked chain conveyor I I' is provided to extend substantially for the length of the casing 9 to insure that the bottles will be sufficiently exposed to the cooling medium to attain the desired temperature drop while moving through the unit 6. The endless conveyor II is of compact construction, it being particularly advantageous to pass the least amount of conveyor body through the cooling zone of the unit for decreasing or minimizing refrigerating losses.

The cooling of the containers in continuity and timed sequence with the washing and filling operations renders possible the unitary and selfcontained construction of the cooling apparatus which adapts it for convenient installation in existing bottling plants without entailing any appreciable labor, time or expense. The individual conveyor II for the unit III preferably comprises a flexible endless belt or chain II preferably though not essentially comprising interconnected links (Figures 3, 4 and supported for movement longitudinally of the casing 9 by sprockets I2 disposed in a horizontal plane'at opposite ends of the casing. The sprockets I2 are rotatively mounted on shafts I3 disposed transversely of the casing for journalled support in brackets I4 projecting inwardly from and attached to the end walls of the casing 9. The brackets I4 so locate the sprockets l2 that the upper run of the conveyor belt or chain I I is at substantially the level of the filling table of the unit I at one end, and in the same plane as the conveyor 8 at the other end.

Any suitable means may be provided for driving the conveyor in coordinated timed relation with the conveyor 8 supplying bottles or other containers from the washing unit 5. In the present embodiment, the driving instrumentalities consist of a chain-and-sprocket driving connection between the conveyor I I and the conveyor 8. To this end, a sprocket I5 is fixed to the shaft I3 which carries the conveyor supporting sprocket I2 at the receiving end of the cooling unit 6 (Figure 4). A flexible drive chain l6 (Figures 1 and 4) meshes with the toothed periphery of the sprocket I5 to extend over and mesh with the periphery of a similar sprocket I'I carried by the shaft which supports the discharge end of the conveyor 8 leading from the washing unit 5. Consequently, the. cooling unit conveyor II is driven in timed relation with the Washing unit conveyor 8, and the bottles or containers are efliciently carried from the washing unit 5, through the cooling unit 6, and delivered to the filling unit I as will appear more fully hereinafter.

The bottles or containers are transferred from the washing unit conveyor 8 to the cooling unit conveyor II, and from the cooling unit conveyor II to the filling unit I with the aid of suitable platforms I8 provided at both ends of the cooling unit 6. The platforms I8 consist, in this instance, of flat metallic plates secured to the cooling unit casing 9 with their upper surfaces horizontally aligned with the upper run of the cooling unit conveyer II. The ends of the plates I8 may be suitably shaped to permit them to be fitted closely to the cooling unit conveyor II without actually touching it so that the bottles or containers may slide easily from the cooling unit conveyer II to the plates I8 or vice versa. After being deposited on one of the plates I8, a bottle will be pushed along by the next following bottle so that they will be discharged in a continuous series when the washing, cooling and filling equipment is in operation.

To guide the bottles as they are being conveyed through the cooling unit 6 by the conveyor H, and to align them in'a row suitably spaced with respect to the cooling instrumentalities, a pair of spaced guide members I9 are provided in operative relation with the cooling unit conveyor I I. The guide members I 9 comprise, in this instance, a confronting pair of guide bars I9 disposed adjacent and above the opposite sides of the cooling unit conveyor II to extend longitudinally thereof for the entire length of the cooling unit casing 9. The guide bars I9 are preferably supported at opposite ends by bracket arms 20 which hold them in a position to define a predetermined passageway along which the bottles may be carried by the cooling unit conveyor I I. The extremities of the guide bars I9 are preferably flared outwardly (Figure 2) so that the bottles may be gradually moved into alignment as they are advanced to the cooling unit conveyor II from the washing unit discharge conveyor 9.

In order to provide for the handling of bottles of different diameters, the guide bars I9 are preferably mounted foradjustment to vary their relative spacing to accommodate differently sized and styled bottles or containers. To this end, the guide bar supporting bracket arms are provided on their lower ends with comparatively shorter horizontally projecting arms 20'. Supporting and operating links 2I are pivotally connected to both ends of each of the link arms 20'. The links 2I are, in turn, pivotallyconnected at their opposite extremities to end walls of the cooling unit. The guide supporting brackets 20 are provided, therefore, with a rocking back and forth movement or adjustment while retaining the parallel relationship between the oppositely disposed guide bars I9.

As a means of adjusting and remotely controlling the position of the guide bars I9 and their instrumentalities for positioning the guide bars I9, the innermost pair of links 2I are of the bell crank lever type having their shorter arms 2|: projecting toward and crossing each other. The shorter bell crank arms 2I' are, in turn, pivotally connected to the extremities of links 22 intersecting for pivotal connection with the free extremity of an actuator lever =23 fixed to a shaft 24 suitably journalled at opposite ends in the end walls of the cooling unit casing 9. One lever 23 is provided at each end of the cooling unit casing 9 for operative connection to the brackets 20 carrying the guide bars I9 which can be shifted in unison by the rocking of the shaft 24 which projects through the end walls of the casing 9 to rendersuch externally accessible. Rocking of the shaft 24 may be conveniently effected by means of an externally accessible manual lever 25 secured to the outer end of the shafts 24. The manual levers 1 25 are preferably located externally of the base 9 so as to be easily accessible. In order that the guide bars I9 may beretained in any desired position,locking means of suitable character such as a toothed segment 26 and spring operated pawl latch 26', may be operatively associated with the manual operating member 25. Accordingly, the guide bars I9 may be set to a desired position and locked securely in any predetermined spaced relation for guiding bottles or containers of any particular size, shape and type.

As the bottles are being conveyed through the cooling unit 6 by the conveyor I I, they are cooled to the desired temperature in a manner to be presently described. The cooling is effected, in this instance, by spraying or otherwise directing a suitable fluid or refrigerant carrying medium such as cold water of the proper temperature. The water may be directed over or preferably against the exterior of a number of bottles simultaneously by any suitable means such as spray nozzles 21 positioned above and on each side of the cooling unit-conveyor II so as to direct the water downwardly over or against the side of the bottles. As shown herein, the spray nozzles 21 comprise pipes or tubes of substantially the same length as the conveyor II and disposed parallel to and above the conveyor. The pipes 21 are provided with suitably spaced apertures for directing the water downwardly and toward the bottles on the conveyor II. 7

Support for the nozzles 21 is provided by a hood structure carried by the casing 9 and spaced substantially above the conveyor I I. The hood structure includes, in this instance, brackets 21 at each end, the brackets 21 being formed with downwardly projecting ears to which the respective nozzletubes may be secured at their opposite ends. The brackets 2'5 also provide support for a cover member 28 and a pair of guard members or shields 29 preferably of hard rubber material which serve to preclude the entrance of cooling fluid or other material to the interior of the bottles. As shown herein, the cover member 28 comprises a shallow, generally U-shaped trough of sheet metal or other suitable material, carried in an inverted position above the conveyor I I. The side portions of the trough 28 are formed of sufficient length to project well beyond the sides of the conveyor II to provide ample protection for the open -mouths of the bottles.

The guard members or'i: shields 29 preferably comprise relatively long, narrow rectangular strips of hard rubber that are preferably supported along one edge for pivotal movement on axes parallel to the longitudinal axis of the conveyor. The hard rubber shields 29 are capable of yielding during their edge engagement with the bottle necks to effectively serve their purpose. In the present instance, pivotal support is provided by shafts 30 journalled at opposite ends in' suitable bearings formed in the brackets 21'. Each shaft 30 is flattened along one side to provide a convenient means for attaching thereto the bottle mouth shields 29. With the shields; 29 mounted in this manner, their lower edges are disposed parallel to each other and project downwardly below the mouths of the bottles on the conveyor I I.

The pivotal mounting of the shields 29 permits their displacement so that their free edges engage the bottle necks and thus serve to direct the fluid delivered by the nozzles 26 against the s hields 29 to drop downwardly along the sides of the bottles and away from the open mouths thereof.

Engagement of the shields 29 with the bottles is insured by counterbalanced arms 3i secured to the shafts 30 in a manner such as to rotatively urge the shafts 30 and shields 29 toward each other in engagement with the bottle necks. The open bottles are, therefore, effectually protected against the entrance of cooling fluid or other material, and the bottles are discharged by the conveyor II in proper condition to the filling unit 1. It will be apparent from the foregoing that the interior of the bottles or containers previously washed and rendered sterile by the unit 5, will not be contaminated by the cooling medium which is directed against the shields 29 and the exterior walls of the bottles or containers. The cooling medium drops from the shields 29 on to the bottle exteriors without any possible entrance into their interiors. In order to enable the cooling medium and. shields 29 to'function properly with bottles of different heights, the hood 28 and associated equipment supported therewith, is mounted for adjustment vertically with respect to the-cooling unit casing 9 and conveyor II. To this end, the

- brackets 21 are formed with outwardly projecting arms 32 having recessed extremities .to receive and engage vertical supporting rods 33 provided proximate to the four corners of the casing 9. The rods 33 are guided for vertical movement in bearings 34 carried by the end walls of the casing 9, they being supported at the extremities of transverse support bars 35 disposed within the casing 9. The bars 35 are, in turn, supported intermediate their ends by a vertically disposed rod 36 which is slidably mounted for vertical movement in a bearing 31 fixed to each end wall of the casing 9.

For raising and lowering the hood 28 and its associated structure, a lever 38 is fixed to a shaft 39 which is journalled in suitable bearings mounted in the end walls of the casing 9. An

actuating lever 38 is provided proximate to eachend of the casing 9 and each has its outer end operatively connected through toggle links 38' to the vertical supporting rod 36 which effects and guides the vertical displacement of the crossbars which support the rods 33 and the hood 28 superposed thereon with auxiliary instrumentalities. The shaft 39 projects through the end walls of the casing 9, to receive a manually operable member or lever 46 rigidly secured thereto and disposed externally of the casing 9 for convenient access. The displacementof the lever 40 in a clockwise direction (viewed from Figure 4) will serve to elevate the hood 28 and its supporting structure and hood together with the cooling and shielding apparatus relative to the conveyor I I. Shifting the lever 40 in a counterclockwise direction (viewed from Figure 4) lowers the hood 28 and other apparatus associated therewith. In order to lock the levers 40 in any desired position, they are provided with suitable locking means comprising. in this instance, a toothed segment 4! and spring pawl latch mechanism 4| carried by the lever 40 similarly to the levers 25 described supra. The hood 28, shields 29, and associated parts may be vertically adjusted to function ef fectively with bottles of different heights while the conveyor guides 19 are horizontally adjustable to accommodate bottles or containers of difierent diameters or widths.

A suitable refrigerant or refrigerating medium such as cold water for cooling the bottles, is delivered to the spray nozzles 26 through a system of ducts by means of.a pump 42 driven by an electric motor 42'. the spraying and associated apparatus will result in position variations in the distance between such apparatus and the pump 42, the duct syst m is of a flexible character to properly function under these conditions. To this end, the pump 42 is arranged to discharge into a rigid conduit 43 extending vertically along the side of the casing 9 andterminating at a point slightly above its upper edge. A T-union 44 fitted to the upper end of the conduit 43, provides for a' fluid supply to the two spray nozzles 26. In this instance. the fluid supply from the conduit 43;

is connected to the spray nozzles 26 by means of flexible tubes 45 which communicate between the T-union 44 and suitable inlet nipples formed on the respective nozzles 26. The flexible character of the tubes 45 permits the cooling apparatus to be raised or lowered as desired, without interfering in any way with the supply of cooling fluid.

As a means for maintaining the cooling fluid at the proper temperature 'and permitting its repeated use by recirculation, the cooling unit 6 may be provided with refrigerating apparatus conveniently disposed within the hollow casing 9 or externally thereof depending upon the dietates of commercial practice or the requirements of any particular installation. The refrigerating apparatus includes. in this instance, a pipe coil unit 46 of standard or approved construction through which a suitable refrigerant may be circulated by a refrigerant unit (not shown) of any suitable type ordinarily provided for this purpose.

Since the adjustment of As shown, the refrigerant is delivered to the coil 46 through an inlet pipe 41 and returned to the refrigerant unit (not shown) through an outlet The refrigerant coil 46 is preferably disposed I in an edgewise position so that its parallel pipe sections are vertically superposed below the conveyor, and substantially parallel thereto. Suitable brackets 50 are attached to the casing 9 and serve to hold the coil 46 in place. The cooling fluid after passing over the bottles on the conveyor H, is collected in a substantially V-shaped trough 5| mounted in the upper part of the easing 9 between the conveyor and the coil 46 so as to direct the water downwardly over the coil 46 for further cooling and recirculation as will appear more fully hereinafter. To this end, the trough 5| is provided with a narrow outlet extending substantially throughout its length and disposed immediately above the uppermost pipe sectionof the coil 46. The fluid collected in the trough 5| is thus directed over the upper part of the coil 46 and in its downward path is deflected over the lower sections of the coil 46 by means of inclined deflecting vanes or bailles 52 disposed intermediate the pipe sections and superposed adjacent the sides of the coil 46.

The fluid is thus brought into contact with the cold pipe surfaces of the refrigerating coil 46 and is cooled to the proper temperature before being deposited in the bottom of the casing 9 for re-circulation. The cold fluid is preferably collected and confined in a reservoir or tank 53 formed in the bottom of the casing 9 for recirculation. To this end, the pump 42 withdraws the cooled fluid from the casing bottom or tank 53 and delivers such under pressure to the spray nozzles 26 described supra. To insure the maintenance of this fluid at the proper temperature, the tank 53 comprises spaced walls defining a compartment with insulating material 54 of any suitable character to minimize thermal conduction and reduce the cold loss to a minimum.

In operation, the washed bottles will be delivered by the washing unit 5 over the conveyor 6 to the cooling unit 6 at a suitable rate determined by the operating speed of the filling unit 1. The cooling unit 6 having been suitably adjusted in accordance with the size of the bottles to be filled, will receive the bottles from the conveyor 8, cool them to the desired temperature, and deposit them on the filling table of the filling unit 1. The filling unit 1 may be stopped momentarily, if necessary, without necessitating any interruption in operation of the cooling unit 6.

quirements of any particular installation.

Upon the filling unit resuming operation, the bottles will again be presented thereto by the conveyor II at the desired low temperature. In

view of the foregoing, it will be apparent that an improved arrangement and organization of bottling equipment has been provided particularly effected while the bottles are in movement toward the filling unit, the apparatus being so designed and constructed as toinsure their exposure to the cooling medium a sufllcient time to reduce their body to the proper temperature.

Moreover, the cooling apparatus is of improved construction and self-contained to permit its ready use 'with existing container washing and filling installations. cThe cooling apparatus is ef-. ficient and reliable in operation, relatively simple and inexpensive to manufacture, and is well adapted to perform its intended functions, that is very efiicaciously accomplished from a production standpoint when interposed between washing and filling units in synchronized timed relation therewith. v

Various changes may be made in the embodiment of the invention herein specifically described without departing from or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention or any features thereof, and nothing herein shall be construed as limitations upon the invention, its concept or structural embodiment as to the whole or any part thereof except as defined in the appended claims.

I claim: f

1. In a device of the character described, the combination with means for feeding containers along a predetermined path, of spray means in said path to direct a cooling medium against the containers for lowering the temperature of the containers to a selected degree, a hood over said spray means along said feeding means, spray deflector means depending from said hood, and means in said path for directing the discharge of the cooled containers to a predetermined position.

2. In a device of the character described, the combination with means for feeding containers along a predetermined path, of spray means in said path to direct a cooling medium against the containers for lowering the temperature of the containers to a selected degree, means. for angularly adjusting said, spray means, and means in said path for directing the discharge of the cooled containers to a predetermined position.

3. In a device of the character described, the combination with means for feeding containers along a predetermined path, of spray means in said path to direct a cooling medium against the containers for lowering the'temperature of the containers to a selected degree, means for ad- Justing said spray means, and deflector means associated with said spray means for precluding the cooling medium from said spray means to enter the interior of the containers.

4. In a device of the character described, the combination with means for feeding containers along a predetermined path, of spray means in said path to direct a cooling medium against the containers for lowering the temperature of the containers to a selected degree, means for adjusting said spray means, and deflector means pivotally mounted to engage the containers below the mouth thereof for precluding the cooling medium from said spray means to enter the interior of the containers.

Justing said spray means, deflector means pivotally mounted to engage the containers below the mouth thereof, and means for normally urging said deflector means in container engaging position for precluding the cooling medium from said spray means to enter the interior of the containers.

6. In a device of the character described, the combination with means for feeding containers along a predetermined path, of spray means in said path to direct a cooling medium against the containers for lowering the temperature of the containers to a selected degree, means for adjusting said spray means, {deflector means pivotally mounted to engage the containers below the mouth thereof, means for normally urging said deflector means in container engaging position for precluding the cooling medium from said spray means'to enter the interior of the containers, and means for recirculating the cooling means for discharge, through said spray means.

7. In a device of the character described, the combination with a frame, of means on said frame for feeding containers along a predetermined path, container cooling means along said path, adjustable means for guiding containers along said path, and means for adjusting said container cooling means to the requirements of differently sized containers.

8. In a device of the character described, the combination with a frame, of a casing mounted on said frame, means on said frame for feeding containers along a predetermined path, container cooling means in said path, adjustable means for guiding containers along said path, means for adjusting said container cooling means to the requirements of differently sized containers, and control means accessible externally of said casing to operate said adjustable container guide means.

9. In a device of the character described, the combination with a frame, of a casing mounted on said frame, means on said frame for feeding containers along a predetermined path, container cooling spray means adjustably mounted in said path, adjustable means for guiding containers along said path, means for adjusting said container cooling means to the'requirements of differently sized containers, and control means accessible externally of said casing to operate said adjustable container guide means.

10. In a device of the character described, the combination with a frame, of acasing mounted on said frame, means on said frame for feeding containers along a predetermined path, container cooling spray means adjustably mounted in said path, adjustable means for guiding containers along said path, meansfor adjusting said container cooling means to' the requirements of differently sized containers, and control means accessible externally of said casing to operate said adjustable container guide means and spray means.

11. In a device of the character described, the

I combination with a frame, of a casing fixed to said frame, means on said frame for feeding containers along a predetermined path, spray means in said path for directing a cooling medium against the exterior of the containers, a refrigerating coil disposed in said casing beneath the path of container travel, cooling medium collecting means interposed between said path of container travel and said refrigerating coil, there being cooling medium discharge means in the bottom of said collecting means to direct the cooling medium over said refrigerating coil, and

means in said casing beneath said refrigerating coil to collect the cooling medium therefrom.

12; In a device of the character described, the combination with a frame, of a casing fixed to said frame, means on said frame for feeding containers along a predetermined path, spray means in said path for directing a cooling medium against the exterior of the containers, a refrigerating coil disposed in said casing beneath the path of container travel, cooling medium collecting means interposed between said path of container travel and said refrigerating coil, there being cooling medium discharge means in the bottom of said collecting means to direct the cooling medium over said refrigerating coil, means in said casing beneath said refrigerating coil to collect the cooling medium therefrom, and pump means for circulating the cooling medium from said last named cooling medium collecting means through said spray means.

13. In a device of the character described, the combination with a frame, of a casing fixed to said frame, means on said frame for feeding containers along a predetermined path, spray means in said path for directing a cooling medium against the exterior of the containers, a hood disposed over said spray means, a refrigerating coil disposed in said casing beneath the path of container travel, cooling medium collecting means interposed between said path of container travel and.said refrigerating coil, there being cooling medium discharge means in the bottom of said collecting means to direct the cooling medium over said refrigerating coil, and means in said casing beneath said refrigerating coil to collect the cooling medium therefrom.

14. In a device of the character described, the combination with a frame, of a casing fixed to said frame, means on said frame for feeding containers along a predetermined path, spray means in said path for directing a cooling medium against the-exterior of the containers, a hood disposed over said spray means, spray deflectors mounted in said path'to normally engage the containers beneath the open mouth thereof, a refrigerating coil disposed in said casing beneath the path of container travel, cooling medium collecting means interposed between said path of container travel and said refrigerating coil there being cooling medium discharge means in the bottom of said collecting means to direct the cooling medium over said refrigerating coil, and means in said casing beneath said refrigerating coil to collect the cooling medium therefrom.

15. In a device of the character described, the combination with a frame, of a casing fixed to said frame, means on said frame for feeding containers along a predetermined path,'spray means in said path for directing a cooling medium against the exterior of the containers, a hood disposed over said spray means, adjustable spray deflectors pivotally mounted in said path to normally engage the containers beneath the open mouth thereof, a refrigerating coil disposed in said casing beneath the path of container travel, cooling medium collecting means interposed between said path of container travel and said refrigerating coil, there being cooling medium discharge means in the bottom of said collecting means to direct the cooling medium over said refrigerating coil, and means in said casing beneath said refrigerating coil to collect the cooling medium therefrom.

16. In a device of the character described, the combination with a frame, of a casing fixed to said frame, means on saidframe for feeding containers along a predetermined path, adjustable guide means in said path to direct the containers responsive to said feeding means, spray means in said path for directing a cooling medium against the exterior'of the, containers, a hood disposed over said spray means, adjustable spray deflectors pivotally mounted in said path to normally engage the containers beneath the open mouth thereof, a refrigerating coil disposed in said casing beneath the path of container travel, cooling medium collecting means interposed between said path of container travel and said refrigerating'coil, there being cooling medium discharge means in the bottom of said collecting means to direct the cooling medium over said refrigerating coil, and means in said casing beneath said refrigerating coil to collect the cooling medium therefrom.

WALTER C. HHGER. 

